Only virtual talks, no new investment push before Xi-Trump summit: Greer

Ahead of a planned summit between President Trump and President Xi, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer indicated a cautious approach to US-China relations. Greer stated that preparatory talks with Chinese counterparts would occur virtually, via Zoom call, ruling out an in-person visit to Beijing. He cited ongoing regular meetings of working-level groups as the reason a pre-summit visit was unnecessary. Greer also signaled that there would be no new push to expand bilateral investment before the summit. These details were revealed at a Hudson Institute event in Washington, weeks before the anticipated meeting between the two leaders.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated that President Trump aims to maintain a stable economic relationship with China during his upcoming May meeting with President Xi Jinping. Greer emphasized that the US is not seeking confrontation, highlighting the existing stability in trade relations, including US access to Chinese rare earth minerals and tariffs on Chinese goods. Discussions regarding rare earths have been ongoing at ministerial and staff levels, with the hope of resolving the issue before the leaders' meeting. The summit, initially scheduled for March, was postponed to May due to the US-Israel war on Iran. Trump is expected to advocate for continued US access to rare earths during the meeting.